Chapter 46 - Volume 3 (1/2)

Port City had been the center of trade and transportation for a long time and held untold riches which were recognised by all. They had the financial capabilities to pay off the 60 million if they had the time, although the city would enter a period of an economic depression while doing so.

Isaac, however, prevented them from escaping through such actions with a single verdict from the Department of Law. Anyone with even a small semblance of wealth had invested and held shares of the casino, including the four rulers of Port City. They began desperately looking for any measures to deal with the situation while Soland and a group of North Bears occupied Port City’s casino in order to appraise its a.s.sets.

“Harold committed suicide.”

“And?”

Isaac responded to the report without a shred of emotion, almost as if those words held the value of a dead rat. Cold sweat dripped from Soland’s back, but the creeping iciness in Isaac’s eyes forced Soland to regain his composure and continue his report.

“After appraising their real estate, securities, current a.s.sets and the all-important waterways, we have calculated that they hold a value of around 40 million Giga.”

“We’re 20 million short. Don’t they have any slush funds somewhere?”

“We’re currently inspecting for it too, but it seems that most of those funds were gathered in the casino to be laundered.”

“I guess that explains the 10 million Giga. I was quite surprised when I heard that the safe held so much money.”

The casino was perhaps the best place to launder illegal funds. All you had to do was argue that it was won through gambling.

“We’ve also found something very interesting while investigating the shareholders.”

“What is it?”

“It seems Count Milros bought most of Zeroman’s shares when he left.”

“Milros?”

The tail of Isaac’s lips flickered in happiness after hearing the unexpected news. Everyone in the know was well aware of the turbulent relations.h.i.+p between Count Milros and Isaac.

“Kukuku. It seems like things are becoming very entertaining.”

With the 3 largest shareholders still short of paying back the winning, the remaining debt would now fall onto Count Milros and his family. The situation had been flipped on its head. No matter how great Count Milros’ family was, they wouldn’t have the financial strength to pay back all of the remaining debt.

It was now Isaac who held the sword to end this situation. He could choose to destroy Count Milros’s family or negotiate for favourable terms. Isaac could imagine that Count Milros’ manor was probably in a state of confusion thanks to such a sudden disaster.

“There’s no need for me to go easy on them when they’ve been so eager to eat me alive. They’ll most definitely retaliate, so cooperate with Department of Law and take what is rightfully mine. Man, that verdict from Department of Law is becoming more useful by the day. I better send them my utmost regards later.”

Isaac snickered as he gave his order, but Soland seemed to hesitate and carefully spoke again with a troubled look.

“But there’s a problem.”

“A problem?”

“Most of the citizens a.s.sembled funds to invest in the casino during its construction. If you were to act against Count Milros, then the citizens’ wealth will also need to be seized.”

“And?”

Isaac responded as if he couldn’t understand why that was a problem. Soland spoke again, the worry in his voice growing.

“At this rate, almost everyone in Port City will go bankrupt.”

“What’s that got to do with me?”

“What?”

“Have you ever showed pity to your clients when you told them to pay back their debts? Why are you so spineless for someone who runs a loan shark business? You’ve plundered the blood and soul out of the slums, but now you’re getting cold feet when it’s Port City?”

“T, that’s not exactly it but…”

“Shut up and proceed. You said Milros is involved right? With them gone, there should be nothing left that ties me to this place. So what makes you think I should show mercy to some slobs in Port City?”

Soland hung his head at the harsh orders given to him from Isaac. It was at this moment that Selia entered the roof.

“U, um… there’s a call waiting for you.”

While Isaac was living the life of gambling addiction, Mazelan used his influence to establish a Communicator room in New Port City. Selia, the overly introverted and shy girl, was more than enthusiastic to volunteer for the operator role. Having a Campus graduate take the role of a mere operator seemed like a great waste of talent, but the girl seemed more than happy to do it anyway.

Isaac got off his seat in response and ordered Soland.

“Is it Mazelan sunbae? I’ll talk to you later. Wait here.”

It seemed Selia quickly returned to her station after delivering the message, and Trentor was left to stand by instead.

“So where’s the Communicator?”

“…”

Trentor gave Isaac a complicated look. This man lived in the City Hall, yet he didn’t even know the way around his own house. Trentor reluctantly led Isaac to one of the rooms on the 1st floor.

The room had everything that was required for a Communicator room, with soundproof walls and all. But other than that, the room consisted only of a stool and a screen for the communicator.

“… I ought to decorate this place better.”

Isaac muttered to himself. It’s true that almost no one used the Communicator in this place, but even he found this to be too desolate, when suddenly Mazelan’s face appeared on the screen.

-Crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

Mazelan’s first word of greeting was an insult, but Isaac shrugged and responded with a nonchalant tone.

“It’s been a while, sunbaenim. Have you been doing well?”

-Do you honestly think I am fine after what happened recently?

“Sounds to me like you’ve got some job to do because of me.”

-Then why the h.e.l.l did you even ask the question!

Isaac appeared to be hurt by Mazelan’s harsh voice.

“That’s harsh. I just solved your and the Empire’s troublesome issue, and that’s how you’re going to treat me?”

Mazelan seemed as if he was suffering from a migraine.

-The problem is that you did it too well.

“So what’s the problem? It doesn’t seem like you’re here to tell me that I’ve done a good job.”

-You made the issue too big! 60 million? You’ve crossed the line, no matter how you look at it!

“I just hit it big for once.”

-But you should still keep it within reason! It was you who robbed their safe too, right?

“I know I am the prime suspect due to circ.u.mstances, but it still hurts me that even you would accuse me first.”

-…

Mazelan was at a loss for words with Isaac’s obvious feign of innocence. Mazelan made a sigh of defeat and shook his head.

-This isn’t something we can gloss over so easily. Do you really think Port City will just lie down and give up? They’ll likely hire famous detective agents and mercenaries to get to the bottom of this. There isn’t anything they can do about the gambling match, but finding evidence linking you and the robbery would be more than enough to make a comeback.

Isaac mockingly laughed as if their attempt was futile.

“Investigation? Where? In New Port City?”

In order to start an investigation, they must first find a suspect. Finding someone in New Port City was much harder than it first seems. Even if they were to locate the person, they must meet that person face to face before they can interrogate the person and proceed with their investigation.

With New Port City completely split between the outside and inside, there were only two kinds of outsiders who would enter any district other than Ceta District. They would either be just curious visitors or visitors with specific goals in mind.

If it’s the former, they were politely returned back to Ceta District, but if it’s the latter, then they would either be politely robbed of all their possessions and be returned or buried. Therefore, Port City had no chance to find any evidence with their investigation.

-This isn’t a problem for just Port City. A crime of this level would definitely force the Empire’s police force’s hand.

“Didn’t you promise to stop that kind of stuff from happening?”

-How am I supposed to stop the police from investigating a crime!

“That’s no good. I started the whole incident believing in you.”

Isaac made his complaint with a troubled look. New Port City had enough power to stop such investigations if it was led by civilian authority through means such as bribery or violence.

But things were different if the government’s authority were put in the mix. Not only did Isaac not have a good reason to stop the investigation from happening, even making such an attempt would be evidence. Most importantly, if the investigation were to start, Isaac wouldn’t be able to seize the financial a.s.sets until the result of the investigation were to come out.

With Isaac already being prime suspect due to circ.u.mstances, the police force could easily stop Isaac from seizing Port City’s a.s.sets, and Port City also had enough power left that they could use in lobbying to buy more time.

-Then why did you rob their safe!

“I’m innocent.”

-Ugh…

Isaac made the most innocent cry and Mazelan could only moan in frustration, his face buried in his hand.

“I’ll hand over the rights of the waterways.”

-Huh?

Mazelan raised his head with lightning reflex.

“You can prevent the police from acting if I give the government the rights to the waterways right?”

-W, well that’s true but…

“But! Handing them over now would make it very dubious, what with so many people looking around. So let’s settle it with me handing it over once I am relegated of my position.”

The rights over the waterways held little value to Isaac, since he already had the power to ruin Count Milros. With Count Milros gone, Isaac would be able to gain the peaceful life that he wanted.

Mazelan hesitated at Isaac’s offer and then spoke with a serious tone.

-Do not touch the law abiding citizens of Port City.

Isaac’s eyebrow flinched at those words.

“People would misunderstand if you say it like that. I’m just performing what is rightfully within my authority.”

-We don’t care about the fight between you and Count Milros. But if the ordinary citizens were to be harmed in the process, the government will have no option other than to intervene. Then, even your offer to hand over the waterways will have no impact.

Isaac wiped the smile off his face after hearing those words from Mazelan.

“You do realise what you’re saying right? You’re telling me to kick away the opportunity that would solve all of my problems in a single blow?”

The citizens of Port City must be targeted in order to target Count Milros. Conversely, if Isaac could not act upon the citizens of Port City, he would have no way of acting upon Count Milros too.

-Those higher up would like to finish this incident as quietly as possible.

“Then I’ll have no choice but to retract my offer of the waterways.”

-That is of no use. It is a shame, but the question of who holds the rights over the waterways is of little concern to us.

“You’re saying that it doesn’t matter who owns the waterways, as long as they pay their taxes.”

-Well, that’s pretty much it.

Isaac clicked his tongue and watched helplessly as Mazelan shrugged his shoulders. Isaac was already prepared to give away the waterways, so losing that wasn’t much of a loss. What really bothered him was the inability to solve the Count Milros issue.

The situation would become more unfavourable as time pa.s.ses, so Isaac wanted to finish the problem while everyone was still amidst confusion; but now, a shackle had been placed upon him.

“Fine. I’ll give up.”

-Good choice.

“But, there is one condition.”

-A condition?

“Yes. I want the Empire to publicly announce that I have decided to donate the waterways to the Empire when it happens.

Mazelan tilted his head when he heard those words.

-That’s it?

“Yes.”

-… Isn’t it a bit too unfavourable for you?

“But I get to choose the date it becomes publicised. Let’s make it happen on the day I am relegated of my position.”

Mazelan finally understood the meaning behind Isaac’s actions. If the doc.u.ment following Isaac’s demand were to be released in public, the citizens of the Empire would immediately begin to suspect that the entire incident was plotted by the government in order to get their hands over the waterways. It may not have been as heavy as the secret behind Port City, but it would still greatly impact the reputation and credibility of the Empire.

-Must you go this far?

“I’m not a fan of being thrown away after serving my uses.”

Mazelan was infuriated by Isaac’s words and shouted out, his eyes bulging.

-What do you mean by that! Do you really not trust me?

“Isn’t it all good in the end? If you can’t even cooperate that much when I’ve decided to give up on solving all of my problems, then I’ll have no choice but to suspect that there is a deeper reason behind your actions. Isn’t it still an amazing deal for you? Since you’re solving not just the problem that had been plaguing the Empire for generations but also gaining the waterways, which will boost your finances, and receiving the casinos, which will be a perfect front to launder your money, in exchange for a single piece of paper?”

Mazelan fell into a deep thought as he moaned, and then he stared directly at Isaac as he made his question.

-If I were to refuse?

Isaac shrugged, and spoke nonchalantly.

“I’ll just go over to Port City and null the entire incident and give up. I’ll return all of their a.s.sets too. I’m sure they’ll understand if I tell them that I had no other options.”

-…

After a moment of silence, Mazelan shouted out in frustration.

-s.h.i.+t! Please, never set foot in the world of politics!

“Ha. Did you forget? It was you lot that placed me here in the first place.”

“Welcome back.”

“Huh? You’re still here?”

Soland greeted Isaac with a hint of surprise. It seemed that Soland had gotten tired from all the waiting and was starting to doze off just as Isaac returned.

“You told me to wait so…”

Isaac pa.s.sed Soland before he could finish and took a cigarette from Rizzly. Only after taking one breath from the smoke did Isaac reply to Soland.

“Ah, I did say that didn’t I? Good. You can suspend the seizure of a.s.sets in Port City.”

“What?”

“Why? Did you already start?”

“We’ve already finished seizing all of Harold’s financial a.s.sets and wealth.”

“Really? Hm, I guess it doesn’t matter since he was directly involved in the whole thing. But it seems like it’s nearing dinner time.”

“Shall I order to prepare a meal?”

“Do that later. I want you to send an invitation first.”

“An invitation? To whom…?”

“The mayor of Port City.”

“Sorry?”

Rizzly looked at Isaac in confusion. Why would Isaac invite the mayor of Port City, who was notorious for being a puppet of the four rulers? Isaac continued to speak as he threw himself onto his favourite chair.

“Send him a message that I’d like to have a friendly conversation with a fellow official from the Empire to discuss and strengthen the relations.h.i.+p between our two cities and look to develop them together.”

“…”

“What’s with those eyes?”

Unsatisfied with the look Rizzly sent at him, Isaac asked the question. Rizzly replied with another question instead.

“Do you really need my answer for that?”

“Shut it.”

No one in Port City knew nor cared about who the mayor of Port City was. All city affairs were decided upon by the four in the first place. He was the perfect puppet.

The seat of mayor was always reserved for those absent of ambition. The candidates were carefully chosen from a list of old officials nearing their retirement age.

It’s an invitation only in name, and it would be more fitting to call it a job since they are given a very generous salary and a large sum of money as a farewell gift, making it a very popular occupation for those wis.h.i.+ng for an easy retirement.